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Peters Valley School of Craft

Introduction to Blacksmithing

July 28 - August 1, 2023

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Introduction to Blacksmithing

$820.00

Details Fee Breakdown:
Tuition: $735
Material Fee: $85

Come learn blacksmithing in an extremely safe and comfortable environment! This workshop is for those that are just getting started or the person who has been at it while but is struggling to see the progress they desire. We will cover the basic six skills which are forging down, upsetting, punching/slitting, forge welding, riveting and heat treatment of tools and bending/twisting. You will also learn coal forge fire management and safety both at the forge and anvil. Jennifer will show and explain hammer techniques to make moving metal easier and more enjoyable. This workshop will also elaborate on peening to gain width vs length in metal. We will explore forging leaves, nails, hooks, a roasting fork as part of the forging down or drawing out and it also includes punching and slotting. The exploration into forge welding will be making a few links of chain and/or a fireplace poker in preparation for making a round or heart trivet. We will forge several punches for the trivet work. Each skill set will build into the next aspect of skill refinement and by the end of the four days you will have numerous items to take back with you.

Workshops run from 9:00am to 5:00pm each day
Lunch is included for all participants

 

Level: Beginner and Beyond
Workshop Levels

Definitions of Skill Levels for Workshops

  • Beginner and Beyond: Introductory level course that presents basic knowledge of tools, materials and techniques and is geared towards first timers or those who want to improve and expand their technique. It takes time to build skills.
  • Advanced Beginner and Beyond: Instruction that assumes some familiarity with tools, materials and equipment. Includes reviews and builds on basic skill sets, allows for those with more experience to work at their own pace. Further development of fundamentals, participants have had at least one class or equivalent with professional instruction.
  • Intermediate: Course content that assumes a working knowledge of basic studio tools, materials and equipment necessary to accomplish the projects and techniques to be explored. Participants feel comfortable in the studio setting.
  • Intermediate to Advanced: Course content that requires a proficient working knowledge of studio tools, materials and equipment necessary to accomplish the projects and techniques to be explored in class.
  • Advanced: Assumes proficiency and advanced working knowledge of materials and studio tools and equipment so that the focus is on artistic narrative and/or technical development.
Type:
Ages: Adult

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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Jennifer Petrila

Jennifer Petrila is a metalsmith with 46 years of experience. She started when she was eight years old and for the first eight years specialized in bladesmithing.  At age 16 she was approached by a carpenter about making colonial hardware and then spent years perfecting what she considers one of the hardest aspects of forging metal and that is hardware. Every facet of forging hardware is about moving the metal in a direction it does not want to go. Currently Jennifer is building a metal working school at her home that will be based on trade smithing which she coined as a phrase meaning “I specialize in the forging of metal”.  Jennifer takes concepts and brings them to life.  She particularly enjoys teaching, demonstrating and showing skills rarely seen in public. 

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